There has never been a better time to be a casino player in the UK. There are loads of top operators providing players with a varied catalogue of slots and games.
Many of these will also offer players generous welcome bonuses to try to tempt them into signing up.
Which ones are worth paying attention to, though? We’ve put together this handy guide reviewing some of the best offers available, along with our criteria for how we ranked them.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at some of the best welcome bonuses available at the best online casinos.
Our system for rating the best welcome bonuses for UK casino players
With so many welcome bonuses on the market, knowing which ones are worth taking advantage of can be tricky. We use the following criteria to determine which sign-up bonuses you should consider signing up for.
- Wagering requirements: One of the biggest factors determining the quality of a welcome bonus is its wagering requirements. Wagering requirements display the number of times you have to work through a bonus amount in order to claim any winnings from it. If a bonus has wagering requirements that are too high, then you will want to steer clear.
- Time restrictions: Similar to wagering requirements, time restrictions can really make or break a welcome bonus. Most bonuses will have a set limit on how long a player is given to work through them. In most cases, this is reasonable, but some are not. For example, a bonus that asks you to meet a 50x wagering requirement in the space of three days is probably worth avoiding.
- Accepted payment methods: If you’re the kind of person who likes to use different payment methods, then you will probably find yourself locked out of a few welcome bonuses. While most casinos will allow players to claim their sign-up offers with the majority of methods, there are some that are much stricter than others and limit you to just one or two payment methods. You will want to find a bonus that accommodates your needs.
- Slot choice: The best welcome bonuses are the ones that give you a real taste of everything a casino has to offer. However, not all casinos adhere to this mentality, with some of them restricting the number of slots you can play. While this isn’t a huge problem if the selection is still big, some welcome bonuses may only allow you access to a handful of games. Promotional spins for a particular slot, along with a deposit bonus to explore, is a great combination, but when the bonus is specific to one or two slots, you may want to look elsewhere. Unless, of course, you love that slot, in which case, enjoy!
- Sign-up process: If you’re going to claim a welcome bonus, then you are going to need to sign-up for the casino first. You will want to find an operator that makes this as smooth as possible. Different casinos will have different registration processes and know your customer policies. Some will require simple checks like SMS validation or e-mail confirmation, while others may ask for proof of ID and address.
- How easy is the bonus to claim? As a casino customer, you want the process of claiming the bonus to be as easy as possible. Some casinos will require you to use a bonus code or to opt-in in your account settings, while others will just credit your account when you make your first deposit. We also factor in the size of the initial deposit when we are assessing online casino welcome bonuses.
UK casino welcome bonus comparison
| Site | Bonus | Wagering Requirements |
| talkSPORT BET | £40 in bonuses and 40 FS | 40x on bonus, none on free spins |
| Duelz | £100 in bonuses and 100 FS on Book of Dead | 30x on bonus, 45x on FS |
| MrQ | Up to 200 cash spins using code ‘POTS200’ | None |
| Mr Vegas | 100% matched deposit up to £200 and 11 FS | 35x on bonus, none on FS |
| Dream Vegas | 100% matched deposit up to £300 and up to 150 FS | 35x |
| Grosvenor Casinos | 100 FS and a £30 bonus when you deposit £20 | 30x on bonus, 1x on winning spins |
| VoodooDreams | 100% matched deposit up to £50 and 50 real money spins on Book of Dead | 30x on bonus, none on spins |
| Magic Red | 100% matched deposit up to £100 and 20 FS | 40x on bonus, none on spins |
| 32Red | 150% matched deposit up to £100 and 25 super spins | 50x on bonus, 30x on spins |
| 10bet | 50% matched deposit up to £250 using code ‘CASINO’ | 50x |
An in-depth look at the top casino bonuses for new UK players
1. talkSPORT BET
talkSPORT BET is one of the most vibrant casinos available to players in the UK. It is home to a host of different slots and has some of the best jackpots available for players.
Why we ranked them #1: New users can quickly get up and running at talkSPORT BET by claiming a generous welcome offers of £40 in casino bonuses, as well as 40 free spins to be used on selected slots, once you wager £10. These bonuses are available for 15 days once activated, giving you plenty of time to make use of them.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Nice website design and theme |
| Range of banking options |
| Big welcome bonus |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Limited customer support options |
2. Duelz
Duelz is an online casino that approaches promotions with a twist. The site is all about battling other players and earning points to unlock more features and rewards. It is also home to over 1,000 games from some of the industry’s most acclaimed developers.
Why we ranked them #2: New players on the site can get their hands on a bonus of up to £100, as well as 100 spins to use on the iconic Play’n Go slot, Book of Dead. These are given out in batches of 20 over five days, and come with a relatively low 30x wagering requirement.
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| The theme may not appeal to all bettors |
3. MrQ
MrQ is one of the best casinos when it comes to promotions, as new players on the site can snag themselves 50 spins on each of their first four days. To unlock these, users need to deposit and spend £10 each day. Therefore, you can earn up to 200 spins by spending a total of £40.
Why we ranked them #3: While the welcome offer does require you to deposit a considerable amount of your own money, there are no wagering requirements on the spins meaning that whatever you win on those 50-200 spins, however many you claim, is yours right away!
MrQ gives new players a great chance of making a winning start and is our pick for those looking for an offer with little to no wagering requirements. By staggering the free spins over the first four days, it helps keep the user active and gives them control of how much they want to wager – and therefore earn as a reward. Furthermore, the winnings aren’t capped!
Liam Hoofe
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Huge catalogue of games to enjoy |
| Zero wagering requirements! |
| No-deposit bonus |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| No 24/7 customer support |
4. Mr Vegas
When it comes to style and sophistication, there are few operators that can compete with Mr Vegas. The operator’s site is home to a huge selection of slots from developers like Play’n Go, NetEnt, and Pragmatic Play. It also boasts one of the best live casino selections on the net.
Why we ranked them #4: Players at Mr Vegas can get their hands on a generous welcome deposit bonus of 100% up to £100, as well as some free spins to use on selected slots.
The bonus needs to be played through 35x before any winnings can be claimed, which stacks up well against most other welcome bonuses being offered at the moment. The free spins have no wagering requirements at all.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Great live casino selection |
| Regularly updated promotions for existing customers |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Welcome bonus paid out in 10% increments, which may put off some prospective players |
5. Dream Vegas
Dream Vegas dazzles new players with one of the best welcome bonuses around. Players can claim up to £300 on their first deposit, as well as up to 150 spins to use on popular NetEnt slots like Starburst and Gonzo’s Quest. It also has a regularly updated list of promotions for existing customers to enjoy.
Why we ranked them #5: Dream Vegas’ welcome bonus ushers users towards some of the most instantly recognisable slots right away, and there’s a strong library of over 1000 slots to delve into after that.
The £300 which Dream Vegas offer, should you claim the full amount, is the most of anyone listed here in our top 10. That combined with the 150 free spins and a reasonable 35x wagering requirements makes this an excellent all-round welcome package.
Liam Hoofe
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Big welcome deposit |
| Great website theme |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| A limited selection of video poker and instant-win games |
6. Grosvenor Casinos
Grosvenor Casinos is one of the biggest casinos in the UK, both in-person and online. The site is home to a big selection of games, with its live casino offerings being among the best in the UK, and it also streams live from Grosvenor locations across the country, giving it a really authentic feeling.
Why we ranked them #6: Those signing up to Grosvenor Casinos for the first time see their welcome bonus boosted if they visit one of its in-person venues. Initially, new players are gifted a welcome bonus of up to £30. Should you visit a brick-and-mortar Grosvenor casino, however, they promise to match your bets of £20.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Linked to physical casino venues |
| Excellent live casino options |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Players need to visit in-person casino to take full advantage of the welcome bonus |
7. VoodooDreams
VoodooDreams is home to nearly 1,000 different slots from some of the industry’s best developers. You will find slots here from the likes of Pragmatic Play and NetEnt, as well a live casino section powered by Evolution. One issue with the site is a layout that can make it tricky to navigate. That said, there are plenty of customer support options if you get stuck.
Why we ranked them #7: New customers can claim a 100% bonus up to £50 as well as 50 free spins. To be able to claim winnings from the bonus, you need to wager the bonus amount 30x – which is relatively low compared to most other casino welcome offers – and you have a generous window of 30 days to meet that requirement.
Existing customers can also enjoy a selection of different promotions and tournaments.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Massive selection of over 1,000 games |
| Generous welcome bonus with 50 free spins to enjoy |
| Good customer support options are available |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Some website navigation issues |
8. Magic Red
If it’s a stylish online casino experience you’re after, then Magic Red is the site for you. The casino is home to a big collection of slots and games, with established developers like Hacksaw Gaming and Play’n Go powering its catalogue.
New customers to the site can boost their bankrolls by claiming 20 free spins on their first deposit.
Why we ranked them #8: The winnings from those 20 free spins aren’t capped and there are no wagering requirements attached!
Players also have plenty of choice with regards to payment methods. Deposits are usually instant and can be made in various currencies, with withdrawals typically taking two days at most.
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Stylish website design |
| Good customer support |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Free spins need to be used within one day |
9. 32Red
32Red is an online casino that has been around for a very long time, and it has mastered the craft of entertaining online slot players. It offers brilliant customer support and is regularly adding to its collection of 350+ slots.
Why we ranked them #9: New players can claim their very generous welcome bonus of up to 150% on their first deposit up to £100. This does come with a higher wagering requirement of 50x, but you have a generous thirty-day window in which to meet that.
While the 50x wagering might be higher than with other operators on this list, taking full advantage of this offer means 32Red will give you £250 worth of bonus to play with – which is also more than almost everyone else in our top 10. You’re also free to use those funds on any slot game and have it count towards the playthrough requirement.
Liam Hoofe
| 👍 Pros |
|---|
| Home to over 300 slots |
| Well-established and trustworthy brand |
| Generous welcome bonus |
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Some site navigation issues |
10. 10bet
10bet may be a site that is focused on sports betting, but it also offers an excellent casino section. The slot catalogue here may not be as big as some of its competitors, but you can still sink your teeth into titles from the likes of Microgaming and Pragmatic Play, as well as land big jackpot wins in titles like Mega Moolah Atlantean Treasures. New customers on the site can claim a 50% bonus up to £250 and 50 free spins on top.
Why we ranked them #10: While the bonus does come with fairly high wagering requirements (50x) you are given plenty of time to meet this – 30 days, and over 1200 games are eligible, which enables players to immediately familiarise themselves with 10bet’s extensive library.
| 👎 Cons |
|---|
| Limited slot collection compared to competitors |
What is a casino welcome bonus?
A casino welcome bonus is a promotion that is designed to help incentivise new customers to sign-up for a casino. It provides players with a chance to test out what the casino has got to offer, while also making the operator look favourable to potential customers. These bonuses often consist of bonus funds or free spins.
2
What are the benefits of using a sign-up bonus?
The most obvious benefit of using a welcome bonus is that it gives you bonus funds and/or spins to use at the casino. You are basically given the opportunity to play at the casino with its own funds. One of the other big benefits is that it gives you the chance to try stuff out at the casino without wagering your own money. Using bonus funds to try out slots and get used to what a casino has to offer is a really effective way of utilising them.
What are the different types of welcome bonuses?
There are several different types of welcome bonuses you might encounter. The following are the most popular:
Deposit match bonuses
Deposit match bonuses are probably the most common type of bonus you will find, and they are often paired up with free spins. These bonuses reward players with bonus funds by matching their initial deposit up to a certain percentage. For example, if a welcome bonus offers players a deposit bonus of 50% on all deposits up to £200, and they deposit £200, they will get £100 in bonus funds.
Free spin bonuses
Free spin bonuses are extremely popular with operators and players alike. These bonuses do as they say on the tin, giving players free spins to use. In some cases, these may be restricted to a specific slot, series of slots, or developer.
No deposit bonuses
No deposit bonuses are a huge favourite among players. Similarly to free bets, these are bonuses that the casino gives you without you needing to deposit any money yourself. These don’t tend to be as big as other types of bonuses, for obvious reasons, but they can be a great way of sampling what an operator has in store for you.
Cashback bonuses
Cashback bonuses tend to be more popular with bookies than casinos, but you can still find casinos that will offer them. These will offer players money back from their first few bets if they lose. For example, you may get 50% cash back up to £100 on losing bets for your first three deposits.
2
How do I use my sign-up bonus?
Depending on the nature of the bonus, players are free to use them quite flexibly. Some bonuses may restrict the types of games you can play, but on the whole, you will have quite a lot of freedom to explore. The way you claim the bonus will vary from operator to operator, with some requiring you to opt-in and others requiring a bonus code. Be sure to check through the terms & conditions thoroughly before you sign-up.
Can I cash out my sign-up bonus?
No. If you were hoping to just get a bonus into your account and then withdraw it, then you’re going to be out of luck. The vast majority of sign-up bonuses come with wagering requirements. These dictate the number of times you will have to work through a bonus amount before you can withdraw it.
How do I find the best casino first deposit bonus for me?
You should analyse the way you like to play regarding game choice and money. If an operator has a promotion that only allows spins on specific slots, and you have to deposit an amount higher than you typically would to claim it, then this is probably not for you. Pay close attention to the terms & conditions of a bonus, as well as the games it provides access to and any restrictions in place.
Which online casino has the highest welcome bonus?
Dream Vegas offers players an extremely generous welcome bonus of up to £300 on their first deposit. They also offer up to 150 spins to be used on selected slots. The number of spins, and the slots you can use them on, depends on the size of your first deposit.
Which casinos give you free play just for signing up?
MrQ casino has a free no-deposit bonus that can be claimed by players when they sign-up. This offer allows them to claim 5 free spins to be used on selected slots. Many of the other casinos we have listed also provide players with free spins as part of their welcome deposit.
What should I look out for in the welcome bonus terms and conditions?
In general, you will want to look for a welcome bonus with the most generous terms & conditions. Wagering requirements are one of the biggest things to pay attention to. These tell you how many times you need to work through a bonus in order to claim it. Restrictions regarding payment methods and games are also important and should be checked thoroughly.
Casino welcome bonus dos and don’ts
- DO make sure you claim the bonus: Okay, this one might seem obvious, but it is amazing how many times people sign up for an online casino and forget to claim the bonus. Whether it’s not entering a code or failing to click the opt-in option, there are plenty of reasons you might accidentally forget to claim the bonus, so be sure you have entered everything you need before signing up.
- DO read the terms & conditions: Make sure that you understand everything that you are signing up for. You don’t want any nasty surprises when it comes to wagering requirements or restrictions.
- DON’T sign up for a casino just because of a welcome bonus: Attractive welcome bonuses are great, but sometimes, they can be a little good to be true. If a welcome bonus seems a little too big, make sure you do some research, read the terms & conditions, and feel safe signing up the operator. We always recommend checking the licensing information of a casino. All UK casinos need to be licensed and regulated by the United Kingdom Gambling Commission.
- DON’T bet more than you can afford to lose: The same principle applies to the amount you’re betting. Do not chase a bonus if you can not afford it. If you could get a bonus for depositing more, but you can’t afford to do so, don’t claim the bonus.
Are casino welcome bonuses worth it?
Yes! In the majority of cases, casino welcome bonuses are a great way of getting to know a new operator, sampling what it has to offer, and seeing what you can win. Welcome bonuses are almost always worth claiming when you sign up for a new casino.
About the author
Liam Hoofe
Liam is an experienced iGaming and sports betting journalist based in Cardiff. He has worked in the sports betting industry since 2017 and has provided content for some of the biggest casino and betting brands in the UK. He has also covered football and other sports for both regional and national newspapers.
Commercial content notice: Taking one of the casino offers featured in this article may result in a payment to talkSPORT. 18+. T&Cs apply. GambleAware.org
Remember to gamble responsibly
A responsible gambler is someone who:
- Establishes time and monetary limits before playing
- Only gambles with money they can afford to lose
- Never chase their losses
- Doesn’t gamble if they’re upset, angry or depressed
- Gamcare – www.gamcare.org.uk
- GambleAware – www.gambleaware.org
Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here.
For help with a gambling problem, call the National Gambling Helpline on 0808 8020 133 or go to www.gamstop.co.uk to be excluded from all UK-regulated gambling websites.
